Beer

Sierra Nevada's Harrison: Pour Some Out for the Beerly Departed

Sierra Nevada's Harrison: Pour Some Out for the Beerly Departed

S.F. Signs of the Apocalypse: Probably Our First of the Year!

SF Weekly's 7-Day Dish

Three-Course Beer Dinner At Monk's Kettle

Taking Cues from Oprah: Making a Man List at the Beach Chalet

Best Beer Bar

King of Beer

In which the Zen suds master of the Richmond reveals his secrets

Stick to the Suds

Eldos Grill & Brewery

Best San Francisco Beer

Speakeasy Brewing's Prohibition Ale

A Tall Cool One

The B Spot

Best Beer-Drinker's Resource

The Toronado

Best Microbrew

Mendocino Brewing Co.'s Eye of the Hawk Ale

Dish

Mendocino Brewing Co.'s Eye of the Hawk Ale

Night+Day

Mendocino Brewing Co.'s Eye of the Hawk Ale

Beer Is Good Food

Tour the city's breweries and brewpubs this summer.

The Year in Beer With San Francisco's Scribe of the Suds

Brian Yaeger, the Richmond District's Bard of Beer​ Much time -- and even more beer -- has passed (pun intended) since we last caught up with Brian Yaeger. The San Francisco writer is a hero of sorts to folks who enjoy drinking beer and hope to make a living off of this skill."It's amazing how man ... More >>

Don't Sound Like a Tool: How to Pronounce German Beers

​Don't Sound Like a Tool is SFoodie's series of audio pronunciation guides to sort-of-common-but-not-obvious words we keep encountering on wine lists and menus. No more shame, no more pointing, no more taking on the accent of a language you don't speak.Something always happens to us when orderi ... More >>

Meet the Five Beers Rich Higgins Has Wrought for Social Kitchen & Brewery

Brian YaegerSocial Kitchen's brewmaster Rich Higgins is aiming for supple, food-friendly beers.​After seemingly eons of anticipation, Social Kitchen & Brewery commences its conviviality next Tuesday, April 20 to coincide with the SF Brewers Guild's monthly Meet the Brewers event. The city's si ... More >>

Will the Sale of Anchor Mean the Death of Quality at S.F.'s Revolutionary Brand?

Brian YaegerFritz Maytag in 2005.​Why, Fritz ― why did you sell Anchor Brewing? And does it mean the end of an era for craft brewing both in San Francisco and across the nation? Of the 4,000 breweries operating in America at the end of the 19th century, a little over 1,500 were back up and ... More >>

Our Blind Tasting of Pale Ales Reveals Wide Disparity

Brian YaegerThe lineup.​For this month's blind beer-tasting, we're not going beyond the pale ― we're going right to it. Made with lightly roasted malts, pale ales originated in England as a mellow alternative to dark mild and porter ales. They might have been invented in Burton-on-Trent, Eng ... More >>

If You Didn't Get Tix to Giants Brewfest, There's Always Next Week in Oakland

francobobfred II/FlickrSummer essential: Chugging beer in some stadium parking lot.​The only thing more exciting than the prospect of a series the Giants can actually sweep (vs. the cellar-dwelling D'backs) is great, free-ish beer beforehand in the form of Saturday's first annual Giants Brewfe ... More >>

The Cosmopolitan, Rincon Center's Party Central

ztij0/Flickr​The place: The Cosmopolitan, 121 Spear (at Mission), 543-4001 The hours: Mon.-Fri., 3:30-7 p.m. (Belgian Beer Garden Fri. 3-7 p.m.) [Note: The Cosmopolitan is closed today for the Memorial Day holiday.] The deals: $3 Budweisers, $4 well drinks, $5 house wines, $6 cosmos, and $3- ... More >>

Tasting Blind: Our Panel of Local Brew Experts Rates India Pale Ales

Brian Yaeger​For this month's blind beer tasting, we're tackling India Pale Ales. Though IPAs originated in 18th century England, the style was shanghaied by American craft brewers who kicked up the hops for walloping bitterness and pungency. For comparison's sake, at last year's Great Americ ... More >>

21st Amendment Taps Liquid Gold, aka Imperial Jack

Brian YaegerImperial Jack ESB, the World Beer Cup's favorite "Other Strong Beer."​Yesterday, 21st Amendment tapped the beer that earned it a gold medal at the World Beer Cup back in April. Unlike other brewing competitions, this biannual event awards medals to the best of the best from over 64 ... More >>

Altoids Stout and Chipotle Mead: A Report from the National Homebrewers Conference

Homebrewers AssociationEvery year, beer hobbyists from all over show up to geek out.​MINNEAPOLIS ―Once a year, brewmasters take a back seat to those who brew in the trenches (read: kitchens or garages). At the National Homebrewers Conference (NHC), organized by the American Homebrewers Assoc ... More >>

Half right: New brewpubs attempt to reach bistro-level quality, with mixed results

Homebrewers AssociationEvery year, beer hobbyists from all over show up to geek out.​MINNEAPOLIS ―Once a year, brewmasters take a back seat to those who brew in the trenches (read: kitchens or garages). At the National Homebrewers Conference (NHC), organized by the American Homebrewers Assoc ... More >>

Fatted Calf's Plinywurst: Pastured Pork Plus Pliny the Elder Double IPA

Fatted CalfThe dogs contain Russian River Brewing's Pliny the Elder double IPA.​In this food-forward haven of ours, sometimes we need to take a step back from dolled up offal and go back to where the whole "lips, snouts, and asses" thing started: the hot dog. Of course, tube steaks have progre ... More >>

Tasting Blind: Our Panel Rates Summer Beers

Brian YaegerRigorous steps were taken to assure impartiality.​For this month's blind beer-tasting, rather than focus on a specific style, and since we just celebrated the solstice with on-again, off-again warm weather, we lined up a mixed six-pack of seasonal summer beers. Here's how the Brewe ... More >>

Half Moon Bay Brewing Co.'s Kirk Hillyard

Justin LewisHalf Moon Bay Brewing Company brewmaster Kirk Hillyard.​Half Moon Bay Brewing Company ― about a half-hour down the coast, just off Highway 1 ― just celebrated its 10th anniversary. Sipping pints by the fire pit at the family- and dog-friendly brewpub has come to exemplify Cali ... More >>

Marin Brewing Co.'s Arne Johnson

Arne Jonson's been brewmaster at Marin Brewing Co. for 15 years.​Brendan Moylan founded Marin Brewing Co. in 1989 and has since launched Moylan's in Novato. Fifteen years ago, Arne Johnson became the brewmaster at Moylan's Larkspur original, where the always-sunny patio is a favorite ferry des ... More >>

Bear Republic Previews 23 Brews for This Year's Great American Beer Fest

Brian YaegerHealdsburg's Bear Republic Brewing is entering 23 of its brews in this month's Great American Beer Festival in Denver.​At last year's Great American Beer Festival, Bear Republic Brewing's Racer 5 IPA took home a gold medal, not for American India Pale Ale, but for American-style St ... More >>

Great American Beer Festival Takes Over Denver, with Plenty of Bay Area Contenders

Brian YaegerS.F. beer geek Jason Henry volunteering at the Cascade Brewing booth at last year's GABF.​Thursday marks the beginning of the three-day, mind-blowing, liver-busting, gut-expanding extravaganza known as the Great American Beer Festival, now in its 29th year. Sponsored by the Brewers ... More >>

NorCal Brewers Score Big at the Great American Beer Festival

Brian YaegerSocial Kitchen brewmaster Rich Higgins, manning the SF Brewers Guild booth in Denver.​As the 51-week wait for next year's 30th Great American Beer Festival begins, let's look back at the last few days in Denver, where 462 breweries converged inside the Colorado Convention Center, a ... More >>

Tasting Blind, Great Pumpkin Edition

Brian YaegerOur lineup of pumpkin brews, their identities cleverly hidden.​Seasonal offerings from breweries have reached a fever pitch. It seems you can't experience a solstice, equinox, change in barometric pressure, or Hallmark-sponsored holiday without a slurry of commemorative beers hitti ... More >>

Today: Organic Brewers Converge on Ferry Building for Eco Tasting

MateVeza's organic India Pale Ale.​Between the World Series and Halloween we've got a lot to be excited about 'round here. If you have time between getting your Snooki or The Situation costume together and painting a sign with clever wordplay involving Jonathan Sanchez, take a moment to celebr ... More >>

Prime Your Liver: SF Beer Week Returns, Feb. 11-20

San Francisco Brewers Guild​In just a few short weeks, San Francisco will transform into a beer-soaked playground for SF Beer Week, Feb. 11-20. During the 10-day "week," he Bay Area becomes ground zero for brewers and craft beer aficionados spoiled for choice among hundreds of events. If your ... More >>

Eat Grilled Cheese, Get Toasted

John Birdsall​Grilled Cheese and Craft Beer Pairing Where: American Grilled Cheese Kitchen, 1 South Park (at Second St.), 243-0107 When: Sun., Feb. 13, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Cost: $30 The rundown: AGCK is commemorating SF Beer Week with a sandwich and brew matchup, but unlike at stuffy wine pai ... More >>

SF Beer Week Begins Friday. Here's What to Do on Day 1

bittermelon/FlickrEasy, bro ― you've got nine more days to go.​Pat yourself on the back: Your long, hard nights of liver training are about to pay off. Tomorrow, Feb. 11, you'll begin a 10-day journey of grueling beer consumption known as SF Beer Week. This is your time to shine. If you're i ... More >>

Getting a Taste of PDX During SFBW

NorthwestBeerGuide/FlickrOut-of-towner: Deschutes' The Dissident.​Bridgetown, aka Beervana, aka Portland has much to brag about when it comes to beer culture, but it doesn't yet have a Portland Beer Week (with stress on the "yet"). So some of Oregon's savvier breweries put some flowers in thei ... More >>

What To Do This Weekend, Feb. 18-20

Premshree Pillai/FlickrToronado unleashed: See Sat., Feb. 19.​Craving more? Scroll through additional listings here. Fri., Feb. 18: BridgePort Brewing at Otis Otis, 25 Maiden (at Kearny), 6-9 p.m. New brews from 27-year-old BridgePort, paired with small bites from Bi-Rite butcher and charcuti ... More >>

Beer 'Week' Ends Sunday. Begin Your Grand Finale Today, Day 9

bittermelon/FlickrMaster cicerone Rich Higgins, left, hoists one at the Nanobreweries of Tomorrow event.​Saturday, Feb. 19 Bracing for the crowds when Toronado opens its doors for the legendary Barleywine Festival? It's okay, there are other ways to prove the strength of your liver. Drinking ... More >>

Drink 2011: In Craft Brewing, the Meek Inherit the Earth

bittermelon/FlickrMaster cicerone Rich Higgins, left, hoists one at the Nanobreweries of Tomorrow event.​Saturday, Feb. 19 Bracing for the crowds when Toronado opens its doors for the legendary Barleywine Festival? It's okay, there are other ways to prove the strength of your liver. Drinking ... More >>

The 'Homebrew Chef' Brews Up 12 Courses at the Toronado Belgian Beer Dinner

​There's beer dinners, and then there's Sean Paxton's beer dinners. Paxton (aka, The Homebrew Chef), started preaching the gospel of beer and food pairing well before the trend entered our public consciousness. When not recording his "Home Brewed Chef" show for the Brewing Network/, Paxton d ... More >>

Meet the Bloggers: Jason Henry

Jesse HirschJason Henry really, really loves beer.​You read them here, now find out who the hell they are: We give you the diverse group of men and women who cover the local food and drink scene for you on SFoodie. Jason Henry Blogs about: beer Jason Henry swears he isn't beer-obsessed. Pat ... More >>

New Book Teaches the Alcoholic Art of Beer Brewing

Just Brew It. ​The best part about beer has always been, hands down, drinking it. But for many thousands of Americans, brewing beer is just as rewarding. Brewing is an intellectual experience -- it's an art, a science, a study of history, a mastery of chemistry, and a craft. And while drinki ... More >>

Oktoberfest Rings In the New Beer -- Now in September!

Werner Heiber / ShutterstockIt's that time of year again​If you're anything like us, you suffer through the 11 months of the year when it's inappropriate to wear a dirndl. It's finally time to dust off those frilly garments and drink beer from an assortment of over-sized glassware. Since you ... More >>

At The Bay Brewed, Rock Out With Your Craft Beer Out

​ We know you like to rock. Perhaps you're reading this from your cubicle, and your colleagues have no idea there's an Iron Maiden t-shirt lurking underneath your sweater vest. You love live music, but every time you reach the front of the line at a concert concession stand, you're faced with ... More >>

San Francisco's Five Best Restaurants for Beer Geeks

hober/Flickr​SFoodie hates the term "gastropub." Hates it. But this city has more and more restaurants that technically qualify. Some are brewpubs where you can eat something more substantial than potato skins and greasy burgers. Some talk up their "beer program" (SFoodie sees that phrase and ... More >>

SF Beer Week: Weekend Update Edition

​You made it! You've gone through nearly a year of SF Beer Week (http://sfbeerweek.org/) withdrawal. The 355 days of cold sweats, long nights, and detox shakes are about to pay off in a big way. Get all your errands out of the way now, because for the next ten days you won't have time for pett ... More >>